Giant Saharan solar plant switched on in Morocco

• 8 years ago (2016-02-05)

Africa 302 Renewables 751

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Once the project is fully completed, it is expected to be “the largest concentrated solar power plant in the world” and produce some 500 MW, providing power to over a million Moroccans by 2018, its developers said.

Just on the outskirts (20 km) outside of Ouarzazate, the opening was watched by Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane, French Minister for the Environment, Segolene Royal, as well as a number of other local and foreign officials.

Morocco has scarce oil and gas reserves, and the solar plant’s launch will see the country move beyond its heavy dependency on imported fossil fuels. The news also follows the opening of Africa’s largest wind farm in Morocco’s southwestern costal region of Tarfaya last year.